Interview: Youtube Cover Artist Anson Bagley

Anson Bagley is a teen singer and actor from Riverton, Utah. He plays Gus in Disney Channel’s Andi Mack, and is best known for being involved with the Working with Lemons YouTube channel. With over two million subscribers, Working with Lemons are a group of family and friends who create covers of popular songs designed for all age groups. I spoke to Anson Bagley about Working with Lemons, his inspiration and aspirations in life, his advice for pursuing a performing arts career, and more!

Anna: What inspired your family to launch the Working with Lemons YouTube channel?

Anson: When the Frozen movie came out, we noticed that my little sister looked just like the young Anna in the movie so we just got a camera from our friend and filmed the video for fun. We never expected it to go so viral like it did.

Image: Working With Lemons via workingwithlemons.com

The Working with Lemons channel launched on 27th October, 2008.

Anna: How old were you when you started singing?

Anson: Well music has been in our family my whole life so I’ve kinda been singing since I could talk, but I’d say I started taking it seriously and taking voice lessons in 2016.

Anna: Aside from singing, can you play any instruments?

Anson: Haha no I’m kinda a one trick pony. My voice is the only instrument I play. But I can also dance (pretty poorly) so…

Anna: What do you like to do in your spare time?

Anson: Well depends. Most of the time spare time is non-existent. We go from school to acting lessons to voice lessons to filming to editing and free time is hard to come by. But when it does come by, I try to spend it with friends. Or, I sometimes juggle.

Anna: If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Anson: A seven course meal would be preferable because (as anyone who knows me can tell you) I eat like 3x my entire body weight every meal. Probably something Chinese because there’s lots of variety there.

Anna: Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

Anson: My biggest inspiration is honestly my mother. My mom does the costumes for the entire channel, also co-produces the videos, and still finds time to give her kids an awesome life.

Anna: I’ve noticed that the majority of the videos you participate in on the channel are with your younger sister Mia. What’s it like to work with her? Do you two generally get on with each other?

Anson: Mia is awesome. She really keeps the workplace pleasant and is always cracking jokes. We get along pretty well, but at the end of a long film day everyone is kind of on edge.

Image: Anson and Mia Bagley via Working With Lemons Youtube

Anna: You are given President of America for one day only. What would be the first thing you change and why?

Anson: I think I’d give more support to the Arts in schools. They basically get no support from the government and it kinda stifles the creativity of the students and teachers

Anna: What’s your all-time favourite film?

Anson: It’s hard to say. It depends on the category. About Time is a good contemporary. A Quiet Place is a good thriller. Emperor’s New Groove is the best Disney. I guess it’s just what I’m in the mood for.

Anna: If you could sing a duet with anyone, who would it be and why?

Anson: I think it would be someone with soul like Alicia Keys or Zendaya. I could learn a lot from them.

Anna: What is the best thing about being part of the Working with Lemons YouTube channel?

Anson: Getting to work with my family is a really great opportunity that not everyone gets. It’s nice to feel right at home even when you’re filming or in a stressful work day you get to finish it with your family.

Image: Bagley Family via Mormanmusic.org

Anna: What do you aspire to be when you grow up?

Anson: Well the acting industry would be great but it’s pretty unreliable so psychology is my backup. I like therapy.

Anna: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to pursue a career in acting or music?

Anson: The sooner you get into professional training, the higher chance you have of succeeding. But mostly you have to be willing to put in the time. If you’re not practicing outside of your lessons, you are going to struggle to keep up.

Check out Anson Bagley’s cover of ‘My Shot’ and ‘Aaron Burr, Sir’ where he stars as Hamilton!